Blue Ocean - Chapter 3
By: Bahamuts AngelVII
A/N: 'Scuse me for a second. OH MY GOSH! My last chapter was horrible I just re-read it and it's so dumb. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Okay onto the story. If you want to suggest some interesting things that would be appreciated because I'm running out of ideas.
Tifa sat in Cloud's arms, watching the lights fly by the window. She wished she could feel this forever. But sadly, the ride came to a close only ten minutes later. They both stepped out of the gondola, and Cloud turned away. She reached out for him.
"Cloud? Are you alright" Tifa turned back and touched his arm lightly.
"… No… No, I'm not. Leave me alone." Cloud replied and turned his head away.
"I…" Tifa started, taken aback by his attitude . "Well, let's go to the hotel... I'm sure Yuffie's waiting for us." Tifa grabbed Cloud's hand and guided him towards the entrance to the hotel.
Cloud let Tifa guide him through the tunnel, because he was thinking… Thinking of Aeris.
Flashback
Cloud and the crew popped out of the tunnel one by one, and stared around in amazement. Suddenly, they were overwhelmed by a big pink stuffed… Mog, and a black cat with a megaphone, sitting on top. He approached Cloud and looked at him closely.
"Hey you! What're you lookin' so down for? How 'bout it? Want me to read your fortune? A bright future! A happy future! Oh, but don't hold it against me if it's not a great prediction! Oh, so sorry! I'm a fortune telling machine. The name's... Cait Sith." Cait Sith said.
"You can only read the fortune?" Cloud asked, ready to turn away from the big moogle.
"You kidding? I can find missing things, missing people, anything!" He shouted.
"Then can you tell me where a man named Sephiroth is?" He inquired.
"Sephiroth, right? Okay, here goes!" Cait said, and he started to do a strange dance.
"What the hell…?" Barret said to himself.
After a few misshapen tries, Cait Sith finally pulled out one and handed it to Cloud.
What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear.
"Hmm… I've never gotten a fortune like this before…" Cait Sith remarked.
However, Cait Sith merely tossed the fortune aside, and kept drawing more. Cloud forgot about the fortune a minute after he threw it away, but little did he know it would soon come back to haunt him.
End of Flashback
Cloud felt a chill go down his spine, and he soon fell into another memory, this time of when Aeris finally died.
Flashback
Cloud was walking up the glittering stone steps placed high above the crystal clear water. It was all silent, and only his footsteps were heard as he made his way to Aeris.
She was kneeling at the altar, her light brown hair swaying slightly. Cloud looked at Aeris's closed eyes. He took out his sword... and was about to strike Aeris, when Tifa's voice cried out.
"Cloud! What do you think you're doing"
Cloud shook his head and lowered his sword. At that moment, Aeris opened her beautiful eyes and gazed into Cloud's mako colored orbs. A gentle smiled played on her lips.
"Cloud... I knew you'd come for me."
"Aeris..."
Aeris's smile was frozen on her lips. Cloud reached out for Aeris... time seemed to stand still. Sephiroth's masamune was deep in Aeris's back. He was laughing... his hands to his side, Aeris, her smile still there, Cloud, sword in hand. Tifa and Yuffie who were waiting below were unmoving. For a moment, everything in the world seemed frozen, like all space and time was stopped. Tifa's hands were at her mouth, tears swelling in her eyes. Yuffie, who was normally spunky and cheery, was solemn.
Suddenly, Yuffie fell onto the ground where Tifa hugged her. Aeris's hands fell to her sides, and the white material bounced its way to the deep water. Sephiroth's cold laugh rang through Cloud's ears...
Hahahahahaha...
Aeris looked at Cloud's eyes again, her vision growing dim. She felt herself crying... Cloud reached for her. She smiled.
Cloud... I love you. Wait for me... and I'll wait for you.
End Flashback
"Cloud" Tifa asked again.
"I'm okay..."
They both paused awkwardly for a second, and then Cloud grinned. Tifa could tell it was forced.
"Let's go." Cloud pulled Tifa along.
As they reached the entrance of the hotel, Yuffie was already waiting for them. "Hi, guys" Yuffie called as they neared the entrance.
"So..." Yuffie started, but was interrupted by Cloud.
"Yuffie, let's get some sleep."
"Okay..."
Yuffie glanced over at Tifa who had tears in her eyes.
"Tifa..." Yuffie followed Tifa up the stairs, as Cloud had already disappeared into his room down the hall. She felt arms around her... Yuffie hugged her.
"Sorry, Yuffie. I just realized... Cloud doesn't love me, at all... Well I guess I always knew… But…" Tifa faced her doorway and opened it. She turned and was about to close it, but Yuffie used her body to block it. Tifa tried to push Yuffie away, but she finally gave in and let herself fall against the doorframe.
"It's okay, Tifa... you'll find someone else... He's not meant for you. You can't be stuck on this one guy forever… Tifa, trust me, there are other people. You just have to stick it out until you find the right on… I'm gonna go to bed now..." Yuffie trudged to her own room and closed the door.
Tifa stood up and ran over to her closet. She packed her clothes, and ran out of the hotel, wiping tears from her face. He's better off without me anyways... She bit her lip to keep herself from fully crying. She whipped past Reno, who was formerly of the Turks, and knocked him over.
"I'm so sorry! ... Reno" Tifa forgot about Cloud and helped him up.
"Haha... it's okay Tifa... Heh-heh... where's Cloud" Reno was totally different now that he wasn't out to kill them.
"Oh... he, he..." Tifa started crying over and over again.
"...He's still caught up on Aeris, isn't he" Reno put his arm around her.
"Yeah..." Tifa hugged Reno and stood up.
"He loves her... So I'm going to go and try to find Aeris, and make Cloud happy." Tifa said, and then asked him a question. "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to find Yuffie. See you later, Tif." Reno waved and jumped into the tunnel labeled "Hotel".
So Yuffie is going to have a happy ending too... Why don't I? Tifa felt even more depressed, and she hung her head. When she left Gold Saucer, she noticed the fireworks going off in the distance. She walked through the silent town of North Corel and wrapped her arms around herself, and the freezing wind wrapped around her bare arms and legs. She shivered and walked onward towards the entrance to North Corel.
When she reached the entrance, she called for her Chocobo.
"Goldie! Goldie" Tifa yelled.
She swiveled around, her chocolate hair blowing in the wind. Her hair came undone and she had to hold it to keep it away from her frowning face. She was starting to get worried that her Chocobo hadn't showed up yet. She looked around at the mountains, and saw a yellow bird a mile away eating some grass.
Tifa started running and calling her Chocobo's name. When she arrived at her Chocobo, she found it curled in the grass sleeping. Well, no wonder... Tifa bent down and petted Goldie. The bird stirred and looked up at Tifa. Tifa smiled and brought Goldie up.
"Hi there, Goldie." Tifa said and then she got up on Goldie.
With a "Wark", Goldie set off in the direction of Bone Village. The Ocean sprayed against Tifa's face and arms. This time the ocean sprinkled freezing pellets of water onto her face instead of the light sprinkle that she had been sprayed with before.
Tifa slowed Goldie down to a walk, so she could enjoy the night sky. The black sky matched with the white moon and the sparkling stars reflected on the deep blue ocean. Tifa watched the reflection of the sky blur and mix together when Goldie ran by. She wistfully gazed at the twinkling stars. Tifa felt sadness... she was never good at being alone. Tifa wished so much that Cloud would return her feelings, but she knew Aeris had his heart.
Tifa looked up and spotted Bone Village in the distance. Aeris, I've given up on Cloud. When Tifa arrived, she quietly tied Goldie to a tree. She walked through the village, and entered the Forbidden Forest. The crystalline forest was silent and dead-looking at night. Tifa shuddered and walked down the old stairs. When she arrived at the path to the city below, she stopped. She walked over to where... Aeris was buried. Aeris... Tifa walked towards where Cloud dropped Aeris's body into the water. She gazed down and saw the dim outline of Aeris. Tifa didn't know what came over her, but she dove down into the water.
The lukewarm water swirled around her, sending warm chills down her spine. She didn't feel the need to breath, and she felt somewhat happy. She didn't know why, but she enjoyed the warmth of the water. She smiled until she saw Aeris. Aeris' figure was still, only her hair and clothes moving with the water as Tifa swam closer. She was perfectly preserved, the body of an angel. Tifa cried, and she felt her tears leaving her eyes.
Aeris's emerald eyes were closed, her hands folded gracefully on her chest. Tifa covered her face and swam up to the surface. When she got closer, the surface didn't seem right. Tifa reached out with her hand and felt... ice. The water had frozen, and Tifa was going to drown soon if she didn't get air. She was good at holding her breath; she could hold it for ten minutes, a world record. Tifa felt herself longing for air, and soon, she knew she would gasp for breath and then suck in water. Will I meet my death here too? I don't want to die... I have so much to live for... Let me see Cloud... Let me see him one more time... Tifa put her hands against the surface and pushed, but after five minutes she felt herself going unconscious. Cloud... She looked once more at the arctic surface, and then everything went black.
Meanwhile...
"Cloud! CLOUD" Yuffie pounded on Cloud's door. She didn't care how much noise she was making, she just needed to talk to Cloud.
Cloud mumbled something about "respect" and then answered the door.
"What, Yuffie" Cloud leaned against the door nonchalantly, seemingly busy with the dirt under his nails.
"Tifa's missing" Yuffie cried out.
Cloud immediately stood straight and grabbed Yuffie by the shoulders. He ran towards Tifa's room, closely followed by Yuffie. He burst through Tifa's door to find her closet opened and her bed in disarray. He looked around the room and commanded Yuffie to do the same.
"Okay, okay... Hey, Cloud? What do ya suppose this is" Yuffie held up a letter.
"A letter! For me" Cloud ripped it out of Yuffie's hand and sat on the bed. Yuffie looked over his shoulder as he read the letter.
Cloud,
I know you probably could care less about where I am, but I just wanted you to know something… I love you, not just as a friend, but more. I know you love Aeris, and I went to go find her for you. I just want you to be happy, don't look for me. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble.
Love,
Tifa
Cloud stared at the letter in disbelief. He re-read the part that said I love you, not just as a friend, but more. Over and over, he kept reading. Finally, it sunk in. She's going to give herself up! Cloud dropped the letter and grabbed Yuffie's arm.
"We have to go find her" Cloud said, leading her backwards to the stairs.
"Where do we go" Yuffie asked.
"The City of the Ancients." Cloud was already down the stairs, walking out the door, when Yuffie started going down the staircase.
"But Cloud... I don't have a Chocobo" Yuffie called.
Yuffie sprinted down the stairs and tackled Cloud out the front door, who just stumbled forwards.
"Oh... you can ride my Chocobo with me then" Cloud said.
Suddenly, Reno appeared in front of them, casual and relaxed, his sexy grin spreading across his face.
"That won't be necessary. I can take Yuffie there on my Gold Chocobo." Reno said, running his hand through his flaming hair.
"Reno" Yuffie ran and hugged him.
"Okay, but if you guys are coming we'd better leave now" Cloud yelled as he jumped into the tube.
Cloud wondered if Yuffie and Reno were secretly dating during their journey. I don't have time to wonder about someone else's love life. I have my own to worry about. Cloud impatiently tapped his knees as the trolley took them down to North Corel. When they finally arrived at the outskirts of town, Cloud called for his Chocobo and mounted it.
"You guys ready" Cloud asked at the shore.
"Yeah, of course." Reno replied.
"Okay... let's go." Cloud said.
Reno, Cloud, and Yuffie set off across the ocean to find Tifa, and hopefully save her from a horrible fate.
A/N: … I know, this is bad. Thanks for reviewing. Yes, Reno is sexy.